A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, and the sort of comfortable win that we seem to have been waiting patiently for for a very long time. Some of our football was cosmic, notably Trundle’s trickery and Noble’s sublime free kick for the third goal, whilst Preston played like a side with, well, nothing to play for, and the win never seemed in doubt.

And so we’ve finished in 4th place, which, despite the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion, is a magnificent achievement by Sir Gary and the Boys in the first season in the Championship. The less good news is that Crystal Palarse won comfortably, thereby taking 5th place from Watford, so it is them that we play in the playoffs. (I would have much preferred to have Watford, who have had an even less successful end to the season that us, but we really mustn’t be choosy.)

So next Saturday we start all over again, with Palace away, and the home leg on Tuesday week. Can we cope with the tension??

Elsewhere, West Brom beat QPR to become champions – well done, Baggies, far and away the best team to have visited Ashton Gate this season – and, most dramatically, Stoke drew with Leicester to condemn them to the 3rd division for the first time in their history. Leicester have had three managers this season, and I have to say that part of me is very glad to see the “throwaway manager” syndrome suitably rewarded. I wonder who will succeed Ian Holloway, who will now undoubtedly also be ditched?